Article Summary

We list all the things you can and cannot bring to Kaaboo according to the festival themselves

Most of the items you can’t bring are obvious, but it’s still good to skim the list to make sure you are all good when you try to get into Kaaboo

Knowing what to bring with you to Kaaboo can make all the difference. Having certain things can really enhance the experience. On the other end of the spectrum is you don’t want to bring something not allowed. You will either have to toss it or run back to your hotel or house to return it. This article goes over everything you can and cannot bring to Kaaboo.

Things You Can Bring to Kaaboo

The following is the list of items permitted into Kaaboo. This list comes directly from the Kaaboo Information website, which can be reached at https://www.kaaboodelmar.com/info/

Blankets

Beach towels

Backpacks (under 17″ x 12″ x 10″)

Empty water bottles

Binoculars

Point + shoot, non-professional-grade cameras

Strollers

GoPros (no poles or extenders)

Wheelchairs/medical scooters

Lighters

Things You Can’t Bring to Kaaboo

The list of prohibited items at Kaaboo also comes from the official website and is subject to change. You should check the official website just in case something changes, but most of these are fairly obvious. Anyways, here is what you can’t bring in with you to Kaaboo.

Weapons of any kind

Drugs/drug paraphernalia

Illegal substances

Alcoholic beverages

Glass containers

Outside food or beverages

Factory sealed water bottles

Coolers

Large bags or backpacks (over 17″ x 12″ x 10″)

Fireworks or explosives

Flags or totems

Laser pointers

Umbrellas

Musical instruments, including whistles

Lawn furniture

Chairs

Tents

Pets (except service animals with current rabies certification – enter through ADA Gates)

Audio/video recording equipment

Professional quality cameras

Personal shade tents or canopies

Inflatable items

Yard games

Frisbees

Bicycles (inside fairgrounds)

Rope or items to reserve spaces

Skateboards or scooters (except for medical scooters)

Drones

Stickers

Stuffed animals or dolls

Spray Paint

Unsealed eye drop containers

Opened over the counter medications

Opened bottles of vitamins

Marker pens

No unauthorized/unlicensed vendors allowed

No unauthorized solicitations, handbills, sampling, give-aways, etc.

What should I bring with me to Kaaboo?

Let’s quickly go over all the things I suggest you bring with you to Kaaboo. Again, you don’t have to bring these but as a music festival veteran these could come in handy.

Blankets / Beach Towels – If you are the type of person who doesn’t want to be on your feet all day and needs some sitting time then a blanket or a beach towel isn’t a bad idea. It is nice to set one up back from a stage so you can just sit and enjoy a show without getting dirty. Just know you won’t be able to set up your blanket directly in front of the stage – that’s bad etiquette. Setup your blank back a bit from the stage and you can relax and enjoy the show from a distance.

Camelbak – I am a big proponent of bringing a Camelbak with you to Kaaboo. It basically cuts down on your trips to go get water and allows you to have more time at the stages watching performances. It also gives you a better chance of staying hydrated as you will always have water on you. Lastly, you will use this for more than just Kaaboo. If you go to any other music festivals, hiking, or other outdoor activities you will use it; it’s worth it.

Sunscreen – San Diego’s hottest month is typically September, when Kaaboo takes place. Del Mar is almost always sunny in September so be sure to bring some sunscreen with you to Kaaboo. They sell it inside but like everything else inside the festival it is overpriced. Save yourself some money and bring it with you. You don’t want to come back from Kaaboo looking like a lobster.

Backpacks – Obviously you can survive without bringing a backpack to Kaaboo but I recommend you do it. If you have a locker you can just throw it in there when you don’t need it, but if you don’t have a locker I really recommend it. It’s nice to have somewhere to stash your sunglasses at night so you don’t lose them, carry a hoodie for nighttime when it cools down, and/or a place to store water bottles or contraband. It’s not a big deal to carry this around all day at Kaaboo, so I recommend bringing one. Just be sure to check the size restrictions on backpacks before you bring one.

Alcohol / Illegal Substances – Obviously you cannot bring these in with you, but almost everyone does. Sneaking this stuff into festivals is fairly easy, just use a little bit of creativity and think of where they won’t be searching you when you go through the gates at Kaaboo.

Summary

There you have it, everything you can and cannot bring with you to Kaaboo. Admittedly, a lot of these are obvious, but some aren’t so it is good to know what isn’t allowed before you go. Don’t be the guy who makes your group run back to the hotel because you brought something you can’t part with to Kaaboo.